Updated info re: genealogy software, Family Tree Maker for Mac vs. Reunion??

[FooDog11]

Hi, all. I'm new to Mac, new to these forums (first post) and new to genealogy research. I'm planning to purchase either Family Tree Maker for Mac or Reunion. I've been scouring these forums and the internet at large for comparisons and/or reviews, but I'm not finding much that is recent enough to include in-depth info on FTM for Mac (released in November, I think?).

My impressions thus far...

Reunion: Long established among Mac users, "mature", powerful, good support/community, ability to handle complexity of modern family configurations, kind of a "blah" not very appealing user interface, not linked with any outside resources.

FTM: Designed originally for PC and may or may not have been actually rebuilt for Mac OS, appealing interface, linked to Ancestry.com (may be a pro or a con, depending on who you ask), seems to be as yet largely untested as Mac version but well-liked by many using PC version.

My head is spinning. I would LOVE any feedback on either or both of these options, and especially on FTM for Mac (since that's where I'm finding the scarcity of info). Thank you in advance, wise ones.

 

[mhgator05]

Another Option

Check out MacFamilyTree. Nice interface, working on some links to resources. Iphone app available (if you care, costs more).

FTM has a big advantage with the close integration with the internet, but that costs more $$ every year for access. There is also a lot of bad information in the family trees that are posted and searched. If you stick to historical documents like census you should be ok.

 

[exegete77]

I have been using Reunion for several years. Great program.

 

[KeithJenner]

Check out MacFamilyTree. Nice interface, working on some links to resources. Iphone app available (if you care, costs more).

FTM has a big advantage with the close integration with the internet, but that costs more $$ every year for access. There is also a lot of bad information in the family trees that are posted and searched. If you stick to historical documents like census you should be ok.

MacFamilyTree is half price in the App Store (in the UK at least, but I assume elsewhere as well). It goes to full price in a few days. I have only previously used version 5 which I thought was very good. Version 6 looks like a decent upgrade, but I haven't opened it up yet (just bought it to get the price).

 

[FooDog11]

Great! Thanks -- I'll check it out.

Anyone else?

 

[Preclaro_tipo]

MacFamilyTree 6 vs Family Tree Maker

FTM for Mac (by Ancestry.com) will continue to be updated even though there it is now for sale through the mac app store. (According to the representative I just spoke with on the phone.) I have no experience with this software but am considering FTM as I am dissatisfied with MacFamilyTree 6 (by Synium Software).

I've been using MacFamilyTree (MFT) for awhile now, and I loved the idea of having the companion app on my iPhone but the companion app doesn't work well. Search doesn't work...the keyboard doesn't hide when results are shown, so if the name you are looking for is at the end of the alphabet then it will be hidden by the keyboard.
The search is also broken by commas and spaces, so you can only search by one name at a time...for example you can search for James but not James Wood as soon as you type the space after james you get no results...very weak.

I enjoyed MFT most of the time that I've used it but after over 1,000 entries i've basically exhausted my firsthand genealogy sources and I've gone to the next step and I want to begin sharing and connecting with others to grow my list of names/information. I've done this by exporting from MFT to ancestry.com ...This isn't a perfect process and plenty of information (for example all middle names) did not make the transfer to ancestry.com even though MFT and FTM claim GEDCOM compatibility.

Now that I'm enjoying connecting with relatives on ancestry.com it only makes sense that I give FTM (by ancestry.com) a shot since it connects directly to ancestry.com.

Unfortunately, since I started with MFT I'm facing a difficult transition to FTM in which I'm going to to check over 1,000's of pieces of date to make sure everything makes it over.

For these reasons, if you are just getting started. I'd go ahead and begin with FTM (by Ancestry.com) so that, when or if you are ready, you can begin sharing your family info with others on the website without making a transition.

FTM is available in the mac apps store for $99 or from ancestry.com for $52.46.